How Can We Be Joyful in All Circumstances?

What makes you joyful? Watching the sunrise or sunset, playing with a child or a puppy, laughing with your friends, exploring your talents and passions, or perhaps helping others?

Sometimes, the world feels like it’s crashing down around us. It’s true that we are very blessed in Australia and we need to remember that, but pain is somewhat inevitable, as we’re only human. In times of trouble we need to look towards Heaven and our creator for comfort, but also be joyful. That’s because through trials and temptations, the bible says in James 1:2-3 that we are to consider our trials and temptations as pure joy!

The enemy is often whispering in our ears during various intervals of our lives trying to bring us down and steal our joy. He whispers statements designed to deflate us such as, “You can’t do it and you’re not good enough!” Satan is a liar and we should turn around and praise God instead as it says in Psalm 34:1.

Putting this into practice isn’t always so easy though.

How can we be joyful when things aren’t going so peachy? Perhaps your parents are getting a divorce, your child is sick, you’ve lost your job….the list of unpleasant life events is endless.

Unfortunately, cancer is a common one, and my Dad had it.

I took up jogging and visiting the gym to block out negative thoughts. I was running away from my emotions about my Dad’s illness. I loved the running endorphins.  I hadn’t forgotten that God loved me, but I was in a rut. I had so much going on in my mind and I couldn’t handle it on my own. I asked God to look after it, but, honestly, at times I kept taking it back from Him.

I had a cyst on my shoulder that was becoming uncomfortable so I visited my G.P.  The doctor didn’t seem too concerned about my shoulder but he swiftly referred me to a skin specialist for a full skin check.

The skin specialist ended up diagnosing me with a 2 degree melanoma on the back of my leg and it required a 10cm incision.

I was off work for a week because I couldn’t walk (so those running endorphins had to be put to rest).

When I took the bandage off my leg I gasped and practically cried out in shock. My husband told me that he still loved me no matter what. My leg reminded me of a teddy bear that had been stitched up. It looked ridiculous but that visit to the doctor and the scar afterwards saved my life.

The Queensland summer was upon us and it was too difficult to go back to running while my leg regained some muscle, but I love the outdoors so I went for walks. I started dressing like an Eskimo to cover myself up from the Queensland sun. I was never without sunscreen. A passer-by once made a remark that the sun was starting to go down so why did I need a hat?

Overall, I felt fear. I had lost confidence in who I was. It’s like the scar on my leg had taken my identify and my freedom. The scar made my leg look a weird shape and instead of focusing on inner beauty, I was focusing on my appearance.

I couldn’t believe in my 20s, I had to think about cancer twice over – my Dad’s cancer and then my own.

Growing up I wore sunscreen and stayed pretty covered but I am pale compared to my other family members. The Slip Slop Slap Campaign was talked about, but maybe I didn’t hear it enough. I think that people need to follow a sun smart lifestyle all throughout their life (not just when they’re in primary school). I grew up near the beach and I spent a lot of time in the sun when I was younger.

I started hating the sun so much after my skin cancer. I couldn’t understand how one of God’s creations could be such a hindrance to many of us. Though we need sunlight! Confusing, right?

My Dad became sicker with cancer, which spread into secondary cancer.

Work was stressing me out and I couldn’t stop thinking about my Dad, my Mum and the rest of my family. I rode the bus most days and I felt lonely against all those faces. I was also exhausted from the travel (up to 2 hours one way some days). My back started to hurt from sitting on the bus and also from the stress that was building up inside of me.

Dad passed away about six months after my cancer scare. My life turned into a sort of daze. I was just existing, and that daze lasted for just over one year. My mental health wasn’t too crash hot but I pushed through and sought professional help. Grief is a normal and important part of life and we need to take time to grieve and I’m grateful that I did.

One of my first instincts after my Dad passed away and his funeral was to retreat, but God wants us to live in community. Rest is also important but we need to interact with others, because this is what Jesus did. He went away to pray by himself but he spent generous amounts of time being with other people.

I finally set myself a challenge on the bus trips. If there was someone who I could strike up a conversation with, then I would use the opportunity and hope to bless them with positive conversation. I know that sounds weird for public transport! It’s amazing how ladies I already knew would appear on the same bus route and we could sit together and then I met more new people over the years.

I had encountered the super natural hand of Jesus a number of times in my life, which definitely took away any doubts about God when I was growing up. A supernatural encounter of the Holy Spirit’s presence actually brought me out of the year of the joyless daze and it happened at Hillsong Conference in Sydney. I continue to praise God for that moment.

I like to write down a list of things to be thankful for, then speak them out loud.

“Pollyanna” is the story of the little girl who always found something to be glad about, by playing “The Glad Game”, an optimistic and positive attitude she learned from her father, who was a minister. Then her world came crashing down when she fell from her bedroom window after climbing a tree to get back inside after sneaking out. She couldn’t walk. That’s what happened in the Disney version starring Hayley Mills. In the book though, a car crashes into her, consequently severally injuring her and she loses the use of her legs. There is something we can all learn from Pollyanna and 1 Thessalonians 5:16-18 (NLT):

“Always be joyful. Never stop praying. Be thankful in all circumstances”.

I visit a skin specialist every 6 months, I wear sunscreen every day (even if I’m just driving to work), I stay covered up, seek shade and I wear a hat and sunglasses when I go outside. I think rashies and leggings are the best fashion invention ever! Call me daggy but they are my fashion staples! I still love going to the beach (I just try to go when the UV isn’t at its highest).

I found myself saying the other day walking outside during a break at a women’s conference, “Wow! The sun is so beautiful today!” Instead of groaning about it, I recognised its beauty!  I appreciate more and more each day and being joyful in all circumstances helps put the fears to bed.

You may wonder, why am I still shielding myself from the sun if I’m not fearful? God wants us to treat our bodies like a temple as it says in 1 Corinthians 6:19-20 so because of my pale skin, I have to be a little more diligent with skin care. I don’t want to risk my health.

I don’t want to belittle anyone’s life experiences through my testimony. Everyone has setbacks. We all get hurt. We all suffer. It’s the attitude we choose during those times that is important. Maybe you find my insight about praising God a bit “Pollyanna-ish” but it has worked for me. I would rather be joyful about all things, trusting in God’s plan for my life each and every day, than be defeated. Joy is worth it!

(Bron encourages readers to jump onto the Cancer Council QLD website for more info about skin cancer and to also visit your G.P.).